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Summary

This forensic fairytale follows Ned, a young man with a very special gift. As a boy, Ned discovered that he could return the dead briefly back to life with just one touch. Now a pie maker, Ned puts his ability to good use, not only touching dead fruit and making it ripe with everlasting flavour, but working with a private investigator to crack murder cases by raising the dead and getting them to name their killers. But the tale gets complicated when Ned brings his childhood sweetheart, Chuck, back from the dead - and keeps her alive.

Chuck becomes the third partner in Ned and Emerson's private-investigation enterprise, encouraging them to use Ned's skills for good, not just for profit. Life would be perfect for Ned and Chuck, except for one cruel twist: If he ever touches her again, she'll go back to being dead, this time for good.

Starring

Episode guide

01 - Pie-Lette

Ned (series star LEE PACE), a young man with a very special gift, discovered as a boy that he could return the dead briefly back to life with just one touch. But his random gift isn't without deadly consequences, as he soon finds out.

As a pie shop owner, grownup Ned puts his talent to good use by touching dead fruit and making it ripe with everlasting flavor. But his gift leaves him wary of becoming close to anyone, as beautiful waitress Olive Snook (series star KRISTIN CHENOWETH) finds out. His life as a pie maker gets more complicated when private investigator Emerson Cod (series star CHI McBRIDE) learns about Ned's secret. Emerson convinces the cash-strapped Ned to help him solve murder cases -- and collect the hefty reward fees -- by raising the dead and getting them to name their killers.

In the series premiere, Ned is handed the case that changes his life forever. His childhood sweetheart, Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (series star ANNA FRIEL), has been murdered on a cruise ship under strange circumstances. Her death leads him back to his hometown to bring Chuck back to life, albeit briefly, and solve the crime. But once reunited with Chuck, Ned can't bring himself to send her back. He helps her escape after her grieving aunts, Lily (series star SWOOSIE KURTZ) and Vivian (series star ELLEN GREENE), former synchronized swimmers, think they've buried her forever.

Chuck becomes the third partner in Ned and Emerson's private-investigation enterprise, but she encourages them to use Ned's skills for good, not just for profit. Ned is overjoyed to be reunited with Chuck, the only girl he's ever loved. Life would be perfect, except for one cruel twist -- if he ever touches her again, she'll go back to being dead, this time for good. Series star JIM DALE narrates.

02 - Dummy

When an automotive expert is found dead, ironically after a strange hit-and-run accident, Ned suspects there's more to the story, especially when he finds out that the deceased worked for a company that was about to launch an experimental car. Meanwhile, Chuck wants some answers about how Ned brought her back to life.

03 - The Fun in Funeral

Another strange death at the Schatz Funeral Home leads Ned back to the scene where he brought Chuck back to life. Meanwhile, Olive unwittingly becomes the messenger in Chuck's plan to bring a little sunshine into the lives of Aunts Lily and Vivian via some antidepressant-laced pies.

04 - Pigeon

After an airplane crashes into an apartment building, Ned, Emerson and Chuck try to determine whether or not the pilot committed suicide. To Ned's distress, Chuck becomes drawn to the man who appears to be the lone survivor. Meanwhile, Olive takes a wounded messenger pigeon to the aunts for help.

05 - Girth

Several jockeys are trampled to death, supposedly by the ghost of a long-dead rider, John Joseph Jacobs (HAMISH LINKLATER - "The New Adventures of Old Christine"), and his spooky horse. Since she was a jockey before working at The Pie Hole, Olive hires Ned and the team to investigate. Meanwhile, Ned finds himself haunted by the ghosts of his own past as Halloween nears. Guest star BARBARA BARRIE ("Suddenly Susan," "Barney Miller") appears as Mamma Jacobs.

06 - Bitches

When a dog breeder who may have produced the perfect pooch is found dead, Ned and company try to figure out who exactly did the deed, especially after they learn that the deceased was a polygamist who left four grieving widows.

07 - Bitter Sweets

When the assistant to renowned scent expert Napoleon LeNez (CHRISTOPHER SIEBER) is found dead after a "scratch and sniff" book explodes, Ned, Chuck and Emerson try to figure out whom the deadly missive was intended for. Meanwhile, Olive continues her campaign to get Lily and Vivian back in action. PAUL REUBENS ("Pee-wee's Playhouse") guest stars as Oscar Vibenius.

08 - Smell of Success

A vindictive taffy shop owner, Dilly Balsam (recurring guest star MOLLY SHANNON - "Saturday Night Live," "Evan Almighty"), sets up shop down the street from the Pie Hole. Dilly is determined to drive Ned out of business by any means necessary. MICHAEL WHITE ("The School of Rock," "The Good Girl") guest stars as Dilly's brother, Billy.

09 - Corpsicle

After a shocking turn of events, Ned tries to make peace with Chuck. Meanwhile, Emerson tries to get Ned to concentrate on their latest case, an insurance adjustor found frozen solid. And scent expert Oscar Vibenius (recurring guest star PAUL REUBENS) returns, trying to figure out what is so different about Chuck.